of london



O. DURDLE.

MEANS FOR SUPPORTING ELECTRODES IN IONIG'TUBES. APPLICATION FILED AUG19, 191s.

.. 71, 3 O 4, 2 Patent d May 20, 1919.

WI TNESS Es l/WE/V TOP UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSWALD DURDLE, or Loimoir, ENGLAND, nssrenon TO osnem-nonnn'rson LAMP wonxs LIMITED, or LONDON, ENGLAND. j

MEANS FOR SUPI ORTING ELECTRODES IN IONIC TUBES.

Patented May 24), 1919.

' Application filed August 9, 1918. Serial No. 249,100.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OSWALD DURDLE, a subject of the King of; Great Britain, residing at London, England, have invented new and useful Means for Supporting Electrodes in Ionic Tubes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for supporting electrodes within ionic tubes such as areused more particularly in wireless f telegraphy, and has for its object to provide lmproved supporting means for a substantially cylindrical anode which is supported fromboth ends of the ionic tube.

According to the present invention the anode cylinder is provided at each end with a set of longitudinally-extending pliable fingers each of a length suificient to reach some istance within-the neck of the tube at that end; each finger being adapted to so engage, from within the bulb, the annular shoulder presented by the junction of the bulb with the corresponding neck of the tube'as to prevent displacement of the anode in the direction of its'axis; while the. terminal por- .tions of all the fingers of a set are held ral-dially separated in contact with the inner surface of the. neck by means of an expanding spring locking-ring which is introduced through the neck and 1s adapted by its elastioity to become interlocked with the several fingers near their free ends.

a One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of an ionic tube showing its cylindrical anode supported in the improved manner; Fig. 2 being a cross-section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, the tube itself being omitted. All such elements or details of the general structure of the ionic tube as are not directly related to the present invention are omitted from the drawlngs. I r

In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the anode cylinder a has riveted to it at 6, near each of its ends, a set of three flat strips 0, 0,0 of pliable metal which extend substantially parallel to the axis of the cylinder and are spaced at equal intervals apart around its circumference, the strips of each set being of such-length as to extend well Within the neck d, of the tube at that end. In the course of its length each finger of a set is outwardly bowed at 6 so' as to be adapted, when the anode is in position within the bulb f, to engage the annular shoulder g at the junction of the bulb with the corresponding neck d of the tube; while the spring locking-ring h whereby the ter- .minal portions of the fin ers c of the set are held radially separated 1n contactwith the inner surface of the corresponding neck (1, is received in an outward corrugation j provided on each finger near its extremity.

Each neck 03 of the tube has an internal diameter suflicient to give pa$age to the anode cylinder (1, the outwardly-bowed por-. tions 6 of the fingers c touching a circle larger than that of the neck, with whose innor surface the outward corrugation j on each finger is adapted to contact; the finto an efi'ective diameter greater than-that of the neck; while the ends of the wire forming the locking-ring are preferably directed inward as at In so as to facilitate the contraction of the ring during its insertion within and removal from operative position within the neck of the tube.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. Means for supporting a substantially cylindrical anode in an ionic tube, consistingin the combination of two sets of pliable fingers attached to the anode and extending longitudinally therefrom in opposite directions respectively, said fingers being adapted to so engage the annular shoulders presented by the junction of the bulb with the respecment ofthe anode in the direction of its .axis, and a pair "of expanding spring locking-rings adapted to be interlocked with the terminal port1ons of the fingers of the re-.

the necks of the tube as to prevent displacesaid in an axial direction and means whereby said fingers are pressed outwardly into locking engagement with the inner surfaces of necks.

3. The combination of an ionic tube, an anode therein, resilient means located at opposite ends of said anode and engaging said tube whereby axial displacement of said anode is prevented and independent locking means whereby said resilient means is forced outwardly into locking engagement with said tube.

4. The combination of an ionic tube, an anode therein, means connected with said anode and cooperating with said tube to prevent axial displacement of said anode and independent means whereby said first-named means is locked in engagement with said tube.

5. The combination of an ionic tube, an

anode therein, resilient devices located at 0ppositeends of said anode and cooperating with said tube to prevent axial displacement of said anode and independent expansible rings arranged to force said devices outwardly into locking engagement with said tu 6. The combination of an ionic tube havinga main portion and a pair of tubular necks extending therefrom, an anode in said main portion, independent groups of resilient members carried by said anode and ex tending into said necks in resilient frictional engagement therewith whereby said anode is supported in said main portion, and projections on said members cooperating with said main portion to maintain said anode against displacement in an axial direction.

OSWALD DURDLE. 

